Monthly Archives: July 2017

Post navigation

NORWALK >> A trio of women pepper sprayed a Norwalk shoe store employee while stealing footwear on Sunday afternoon, official said.
The crime took place shortly before 5 p.m. at Warehouse Shoe Sale, 11820 Firestone Blvd., Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Cunningham said.
Three women placed shoes in their purses and went to leave the store without paying for them, the sergeant said.
A store employee confronted the woman at the door and asked to look inside their purses, he said.
One of the women pulled out a canister of pepper spray and sprayed the employee with it, according to Cunningham.
The three women then fled in a gray Toyota Camry, according to sheriff’s radio traffic.
Officials declined to release a detailed suspect description as they continued pursuing leads late Sunday, Cunningham said.
Sunday’s robbery was just the latest in series of recent robberies in which pepper spray or other devices intended for self-defense have been used as weapons.
•A woman was pepper sprayed and robbed of her wallet outside an Arcadia business on March 17.
•A group of teen girls are accused of spraying a man with pepper spray in order to rob him of his iPhone in Covina on May 7.
•Two women pepper sprayed a security guard while stealing purses from a Monrovia store on June 23.
•Three women used a stun gun on security guards who confronted them for stealing at two stores in Temple City and Arcadia on July 13.
Pepper spray, as well as stun guns, can be purchased legally by adults who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing weapons due to prior criminal convictions. They are legal to possess for lawful self-defense purposes, but it’s a crime under California law, punishable as a felony, to misuse such devices.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

NORWALK >> A man has begun serving a sentence of more than half a century in prison for gunning down his girlfriend’s brother with a rifle in 2015 at the Norwalk home hey all shared.
A Norwalk Superior Court jury convicted Jose Ramos Nunez, 46, of murder in late June, Los Angeles County Superior Court records show.
At his sentencing hearing on Thursday, a judge sentenced Nunez to 50 years to life in state prison, records show.
The charge stemmed from the Aug. 1, 2015, slaying of Joe Nava, 44, in the 11400 block of Lindale Street.
Deputies first responded to a report of a family disturbance when they found Nava suffering from gunshot wounds, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Jack Jordan said at the time.
Investigators seized a rifle at the scene and took Nunez into custody for questioning, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez.
Two days later, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials filed a murder charge against Nunez.
A motive in the slaying has not been released.

PASADENA >> Police are seeking a man who struck another man in the face with a beer bottle during a quinceanera celebration in Pasadena on Saturday night, authorities said.
The alleged attack was reported just after 11:30 p.m. during a 15-year-old girl’s birthday party at a banquet hall in the 700 block of East Washington Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
Officers responded to a report of an assault and encountered a man in his 30s who had been bashed in the face with a beer bottle, according to the lieutenant. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The alleged attacker had fled before officers arrived, he said.
The suspect had been a guest at the party and was acquainted with others in attendance, however, police were still working to determine his identity on Sunday, Grisafe said.
He was described as a Latino man in his 30s, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 180 pounds.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

PASADENA >> A young woman escaped a would-be kidnapped who tried to drag her into his pickup truck in Pasadena on Saturday night with the help of some good Samaritans who intervened in the attack, officials said.
The attempted abduction unfolded about 8:15 p.m. as a woman in her late-teens was walking on the sidewalk in the 400 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue, just north of the 210 Freeway, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
A white, late-2000s-model Dodge Ram pickup truck pulled up beside the woman, according to Grisafe.
“The occupant exited the truck, grabbed her from behind and attempted to drag her into the truck,” he said.
The woman screamed for help, drawing the attention of several nearby witnesses.
As the good Samaritans rushed to the woman’s aid, the attacker released her, returned to his truck and sped away, the lieutenant said.
Grisafe said the woman suffered minor injuries to her knees and elbows as a result of being dragged by the failed kidnapper.
Police described the attacker as a Latino man in his early 20s, with a light complexion, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and of thin build.
He was last seen driving west along Maple Street before getting onto the westbound 210 Freeway.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

CERRITOS >> Two men opened fire at a riverbed homeless encampment along the San Gabriel riverbed in Cerritos on Friday night, killing one man and leaving another wounded, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 8:35 p.m. in an encampment along the riverbed near Artesia Boulevard, Deputy Joana Warren of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Information Bureau said in a written statement.
“According to witnesses, the suspects — two male Hispanic adults, 30-40 years-old — walked up to the encampment and started shooting at the first victim,” Warren said.
The 31-year-old man was mortally wounded, she said. A second victim, described as a 21-year-old man, was also injured by the gunfire.
Both suspects ran from the scene, officials said. No further descriptions were available.
Paramedics took both wounded men to a hospital, according to Warren. The 31-year-old succumbed to his injuries. His identity was not released.
The younger shooting victim was treated and has since been released from the hospital, authorities said.
“There is no additional information at this time and the investigation is ongoing,” Warren said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

WHITTIER >> Police issued eight citations, but made no DUI arrests, during a checkpoint in Whittier on Friday night.
The checkpoint was held Friday night into early Saturday morning along Lambert Road, just east of Scott Avenue, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
“Eight drivers were arrested and released on citations for operating a vehicle while unlicensed or while their license was suspended or revoked during the checkpoint,” according to the statement.
All eight vehicles were released to other drivers with valid licenses at the checkpoint, police added.

LA VERNE >> Police arrested a man Friday on suspicion of igniting a brush fire that scorched about 50 acres in La Verne and nearby unincorporated hillsides, officials said.
Christian Joseph Romano, 18, of La Verne was booked on suspicion of arson following his arrest about 4:20 p.m., according to La Verne police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
He’s accused of igniting the Rodeo fire, which broke out shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday in the area of Briley Point Road and Williams Avenue, La Verne police Lt. Thomas Frayeh said.
No injuries or property damage were reported in the fire, which burned through about 50 acres of brush before it was contained by firefighters the following day.•Related: Fast-spreading brush fire in La Verne burns 40 acres
Several neighborhoods were placed under voluntary evacuation orders as the flames crept close to homes, including those on Rodeo Lane.
As the investigation continued in the following days, investigators determined that the fire was an arson and identified Romano as the suspect, Frayeh said.
Romano was released from jail after posting $20,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, records show.
No further details were available.

Two men armed with a rifle or shotgun robbed 71-year-old Santa Barbara man as he sat in his car on Thursday night, officials said.
The crime was reported about 11 p.m. in the 1800 block of East Del Mar Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe said.
The victim was sitting in his car when two men approached, carrying what was described as a black long gun, such as a rifle or shotgun, he said. They demanded money.
Grisafe said the elderly victim handed over about $100. The robbers were last seen walking east, “nonchalantly,” along Del Mar Boulevard.
Both robbers were described as men in their 20s wearing bandanas covering their faces, Grisafe said.
One was of undetermined race, about 5 feet tall, of heavy build with dark hair, he said. The second robber was possibly Latino or white, of thin build, with dark hair.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

EAST LOS ANGELES >> Officials arrested a teenage Monterey Park stabbing suspect following a two-hour standoff at an East Los Angeles home on Friday, officials said.
The incident began just after 11 a.m. in the 3500 block of East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Deputy Caroline Rodriguez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Information Bureau said in a written statement.
Police and deputies went to the home to serve a search warrant as part of the investigation into a Wednesday morning stabbing outside a motel in the 300 block of South Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park, Monterey Park police Lt. Gus Jimenez said.
One suspect, described a man, was taken into custody shortly after the alleged attack, Monterey Park police officials said in a written statement. But a second teenage suspect remained at large.•Related: Man wounded in Monterey Park stabbing
The young man refused orders to exit the home when police arrived with a search warrant, officials said.
A sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau SWAT team, as well as crisis negotiators, were summoned to the scene, Rodriguez said. Nearby homes were evacuated during the standoff.
The holed-up suspect surrendered to deputies shortly after 1 p.m., Jimenez said.
Both suspects are accused of attempted murder, police said. The identity of the adult suspect was not released Friday.

Police arrested two cousins from San Gabriel on Thursday in connection with a West Covina bank robbery the previous day, and were looking into the possibility the suspects were also responsible for another bank heist in Baldwin Park last week, authorities said.
Ruben Edward Mora, 48, and James Vincent Luevano were booked on suspicion of bank robbery following their arrests on Thursday afternoon, according to West Covina police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
The investigation began after a robbery unfolded about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Cathay Bank, 2672 E. Garvey Ave. South, West Covina police Sgt. Tony Cortina said.
A man entered the bank and gestured as if he had a gun, though none was seen, the sergeant said. He threatened to shoot a teller and demanded cash.
He fled the bank after obtaining $1,900, Cortina said. He was last seen getting into a car, which sped away.
“Our patrol officers canvassed the area for witnesses and evidence,” Cortina said. The obtained surveillance camera images depicting both the suspect and the getaway car.
As they continued their investigation, detectives found the car pictured in the surveillance images parked in the driveway of a home in the 5000 block of North Rosemead Boulevard in San Gabriel, police said.
They watched the car until a man exited the home and drove away in it, according to Cortina. Police pulled over the car and soon determined the driver, Luevano, had acted as the getaway driver in Wednesday’s bank robbery, he said.
Police also determined that the second suspect, who carried out the robbery, Mora, was inside the home, Cortina said. Officers ordered him out of the home and took him into custody without a struggle.
Officials recovered the allegedly stolen cash from the home, which is shared by the two cousins.
Investigators also found that Mora strongly matched the description of a robber who carried out a robbery at the HomeStreet Bank, 3119 Baldwin Park Blvd. in Baldwin Park, Cortina said. Authorities were looking into the West Covina robbery suspect’s possible connection to the Baldwin Park crime.
According to booking records, Mora was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail his initial court appearance, while Luevano was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Comments Policy

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@langnews.com.